Jar-sealer



S. B. RAGATZ. .JAR SEALER.

(No Model.)

Patented June 23, 1896.

Fig.1.

Wifinesses Jul/ante? NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SAMUEL 1s. RAGATZ, on Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

JAR-SEALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,418, dated June 23, 1896.

Application filed December 23,1895. Serial No. 573,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, SAMUEL 13. RAGATZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Jar-Sealers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to those devices designed for sealing and unsealing cans of fruit provided with screw-covers; and it consists in its entirety of a holder for holding the can of fruit, and a wrench for grasping the cover of the can, the holder and the wrench both being provided with outwardlyprojecting handles whereby sufficient leverage is obtained to seal or unseal the can with great ease.

My invention may also be used for holding cans while filling with hot fruit, or for holding round tin or other cans while being opened by can-openers or otherwise.

My invention relates particularly to the construction of the device whereby I am enabled to use a loop formed of a metallic strap for encircling the body of the can, or the cover of the can, as the case may be, and to so arrange the ends of the strap that in the course of manufacture the blocks may be quickly and accurately secured to the straps in such relation thereto that the concave ends of the blocks which bear against the body of the can will be arranged at right angles to the plane of the loop, so that I thereby insure that the blocks shall engage with the can throughout their entire width, thus to avoid undue pressure upon a limited surface of the can, which would result were the blocks canted while being secured in place, and which would be liable to cause breakage of the can.

A further object of myinvention is to provide simple and improved means for rendering the blocks adjustable upon the metallic strap, thus to adapt the holder for holding different-sized cans.

My invention comprises the features of 0011- struction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a can having my invention applied thereto for the purpose of sealing or unsealing it. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective side elevation of one of my improved holders, showing the adjustable block re moved from its position in the channel of the strap. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved wrench for grasping the top or cover of the can. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. (3 is a fragmental view of the block D.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the can, and A represents the cover thereof.

13 represents my improved holder, which is formed of a metallic strap 0, having its body bent into substantially U shape to form a loop adapted to partially encircle the body of the can, and having the sides 0 c of its ends bent over, as shown in Fig. 5, to form in each end a channel Within which to seat the blocks D and D. One block, D, is provided with a shoulder cl and the end of the strap is bent down over such shoulder, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and secured by suitable means, such as the nail d. This construction, while very simple, enables me to attach the strap to the handle in such a manner that there is no liability ofits being broken loose from its fastening, even though the operator exerts great pressure upon the handle in the act of holding the can while being sealed or unsealed. The other end of the strap is provided with a series of perforations c, and the block D is provided with a projection or stud 61, adapted to enter the perforations 0, whereby the block is made adjustable upon the strap, so that the holder will fit different-sized jars. By forming the end of the strap into channel shape, the block, which is adapted to fit snugly into such channel, is engaged by the walls thereof and is thereby held rigidly parallel with the loop when the stud or projection is inserted into one of the perforations c. The stud d is provided with a head 01, and when the block D is slipped outward, as shown in Fig. 1, the head of the stud engages with the strap and prevents the block from being accidentally disengaged therefrom.

E represents my improved wrench, which I ordinarily form of tin, having along each edge a steel spring-wire e 6, over which the tin is bent, as shown in Fig. 4, thus to form a channel F, in which the blocks F are seated.

In making my device the'blocks are shaped by machinery, so that the straight walls of the concave ends are arranged at exact right angles with the sides of the block, so that when the blocks are seated in the channels in the strap, which are also formed by machin-.

ute the pressure over a large area, which will.

prevent the pressure from breaking the can.

By my improved construction the blocks cannot be canted with relation to the strap, and it is unnecessary to exercise great care in manufacturing the devices; and thereby much labor and time is saved and an article of superior utility is produced at less cost than would otherwise be possible. Also, the blocks being seated in the channels are supported thereby, and are not liable to split when the nails are driven to secure the straps to the blocks.

I11 practice the block D of the holder is adjusted to fit the sized cans which are to be handled, and the holder is then placed in position with the loop encircling the can, as shown in the desired direction either to seal or unsealthe can as may be required.

It will be observed in Fig. 2 that when the device is in operation the blocks have a k n uckling action against the can, and in order to distribute the strain overa large portion of the can I prefer to cover the ends of the blocks with felt or some soft substance which will yield sufficiently to equalize the strain.

Ii -practice Ihave never experienced with my device any breakage even when the wooden blocks have been brought into direct contact with the glass walls of the can.

In practice I have found that there is no liability whatever of the holder or wrench slipping. I have applied a strongly-adhesive glue between the can and the cover and have sealed the can and have allowed the glue to set, and have afterward with'my appliances unsealed the can without difficulty and without damage to the can or cover.

New, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for sealing and unsealing cans, the combination set forth of the U- shaped loop formed of a metallic strap having its ends each bent into channel shape; the blocks, one secured respectively to each end of the strap and seated within the channels thereof, and each having its inner end concaved to form a continuation of the loop and to fit against the can.

2. In a device for sealing and unsealing cans, the combination set forth of the U- shaped loop formed of a metallic strap having its ends bent into channel shape; the blocks seated within the channels of the strap and secured respectively one to each end thereof, the ends of the blocks being concaved to form a continuation of the loop, and one of such blocks being provided with a shoulder, its respective end of the strap being bent over such shoulder and secured by suitable means.

3. In a device for sealing and unsealing cans, the combination set forth of a metal strip forming a U -shaped loop one end being provided with a series of perforations; blocks attached to the ends of the loop and each having a concaved face to form a continuation of the loop and to fit against the can, one of said blocks being rigidly attached to one end of the loop, and the other block being provided with a stud or projection to enter the perforations in the other end of the loop to adjust the wrench to fit different-sized cans.

4. In a device for sealing and unsealing cans, the combination of the U-shaped loop formed of a metallic strap having one end pro- Vided with a series of perforations and having its sides bent inward to form a channel;

a wooden block adapted to fit closely within the channel and provided with a stud or projeotion adapted to fit in the perforations in the metallic strap; a wooden block rigidly fixed to the other end of the strap; both of said blocks having their inner ends concaved to form a continuation of the loop and to fit against the can, substantially as set forth. SAMUEL B. RAGATZ. Witu esses:

W. II. Horn, E. H. ARNE.

ICO 

